electric water boiler

[woody234]

I have an electric water boiler but it has no timer, it is also in the cellar so probably uses more electric to heat than if it was in the house,  is it a good idea to get a timer for the boiler and set it to switch on over night when electric is cheaper, but how long does a water boiler keep water hot for from when it is switched off ie  3 hours or 6 hours and can you get outdoor timers since the boiler is in the cold cellar

[Anton Redman]

If you type 'heures and creuses' into the search box a huge list of postings covering this will come up.

[thunderhorse]

[quote user="woody234"]... is it a good idea to get a timer for the boiler and set it to switch on over night when electric is cheaper...[/quote]

What do you think? It's a no-brainer. If you are on the same rate 24 hours, then it's irrelevant. If you subscribe to heures creuse, then you can fit a contacteur jour/nuit (specifically for the boiler).

[quote]...but how long does a water boiler keep water hot for from when it is switched off ie  3 hours or 6 hours...[/quote]

Ours once went off by mistake (i.e. forgot to switch it on again) and as we didn't use much water it started to run cool after two days. It also depends on the quality of boiler and lagging. It's like the length of a piece of string. [:P]

[quote] ...and can you get outdoor timers since the boiler is in the cold cellar[/quote]

Is your cellar outdoors? A cold cellar shouldn't affect a timer,  particularly since you don't have to put the timer in a cold cellar anyway. Normally the timer goes in your main fuse box. You only run the cable into the cellar.

[Gyn_Paul]

We've just been away for a little over a week, and of our two 200L chauffeaux, the uninsulated one, was virtually cold (it was just possible to feel a difference between the flow of the hot and that of the cold), the one which sports a uk-style segmented jacket, plus an old eiderdown as an outer coat, was still warm. It's certainly true that when it's full of hot water, the metal surface of the lagged one feels quite warm to the touch, thus despite the inch or so of foam on the inside, they do lose heat apparently!

[woody234]

so do you think if i put some insulation on the boiler it will be better, whats an old  eiderdown

[Gyn_Paul]

I don't know quite where to start with that one: I'm assuming that even without the convention of a question-mark, that was a question.

Do you mean what TOG value is an eiderdown? Or what exactly is an eiderdown? If the latter, I would guess you're under 30!

paul

[thunderhorse]

[quote user="woody234"]... whats an old  eiderdown[/quote]

Google is your friend!

[Jo]

What we used to have on top of the sheets and blankets on our beds, before duvets, to keep us warm in winter, and thanks for that, I feel REALLY old now![:(]

[woody234]

an eiderdown is a duvet made from grey duck feathers which are about £375, they do look good but im going to use a sleeping bag or duvet to cover the boiler until i can find the proper thing to use